A group of paddlers made a kayak crossing to Lundy Sat morning. People were Mark R, Heather, Zoe and myself. Paddled from Lee to Lundy in 4 hours using the outgoing tide. Distance was 21 miles in total. Slight easterly tail wind but quite easy going.

Then spent a nice weekend on Lundy. Walked the length of the island, admired wildlife and scenery, set up camp and went to the pub.

Got up Sunday morning and felt the wind was too strong and sea too rough to paddle back. Therefore decided to try and get onto the next ferry out of Lundy. Managed to get on a ferry leaving at 5 pm. Spend the rest of the day packing kit and loading the kayaks onto the ferry and further exploring Lundy.

The ferry circumnavigated the Island and then sailed back to Bideford. We then got a taxi to Lee. The ferry and taxi made the trip quite expensive in the end. We did not leave for home from Bideford until 10-30 pm and I got back home 2 am Monday morning!

Lovely place...next time I want to stay a few days and chill out, drink Lundy beer, soak it in.

Because of the necessity of everyone being back at work Monday am, we had tricky decisions to make Sunday morning...the Easterly wind was dire and not safe for the crossing back. We negotiated and paid for a lift back on the MV Oldenburg, strapping our boats on deck.

Come the time for departure on Sunday evening, the weather was now perfect for the crossing...typical. Oh well, the boat ride was actually quite pleasant.

Must go again. Wonderful.

Mark Rainsley
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PS can I just remind those mutinous folk who two hours into the misty crossing, were questioning my navigation and questioning the very existence of the island...we hit it exactly at the predicted spot at the predicted time. Ye of little faith.

Shame we couldn't do the paddle round the Island and back to the mainland, but it's a very good excuse to go back- soon! The west side of the island looks like rockhopping heaven, and there are lovely-looking tide races at either end. Lots of fun to be had...;0)

Interestingly, Mark & I came up with exactly the same navigational plan for the crossing (to within 1 degree!)- and it worked! However, when we no longer had sight of land in any direction we did all start to speculate as to whether the map-makers were taking the **** and the island didn't really exist! The Rainsley X-ray vision helped out, though, and we found it exactly where we thought it should be...

Nice pics, Mark- but I now have to find some way of reaping revenge for the 'deflated Zoe' shot- what was that all about! ;0?

Ah, that explains the text. I did wonder whether you'd got the same east/ north easterly we got.

Nice photos. Tame puffin! I'm glad there's a desire to return some time- I'm sure those who couldn't make it, myself included, would be up for it- preferably a long weekend, smack bang in the middle of a big anti-cyclone.

Knees wrote:glad there's a desire to return some time- I'm sure those who couldn't make it, myself included, would be up for it

You'd like it Chris, and it works well for partners who might not like the crossing or camping hardships...they can take the ferry and all of the quirky properties on the island are rented out by the Landmark Trust...perhaps you might like to generously rent this for all of us to use...